Former NFL, Georgia Tech coach Bobby Ross fighting form of cancer
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Former NFL, Georgia Tech coach Bobby Ross fighting form of cancer
Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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Former NFL head coachBobby Rosshas endured some troubling health issues recently at age 88 but won't be kept from watching the big game this week on television. His old college football team, Georgia Tech, opens the seasonat Coloradoon Friday Aug. 29 in an 8 p.m. ET game on ESPN.
Ross coached Georgia Tech to a share of the national championship for the 1990 season, when the Yellow Jackets finished 11-0-1. The national title was shared withColorado, which finished 11-1-1. The two teams have never played.
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"It'll be interesting to see," Ross recently said in a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports. "I hope (Colorado coach)Deion Sandersrecovers from his illness. That's sad. I hope he can get through that."
Sanders had surgery toremove a cancerous bladderin May but has recovered and otherwise is coaching his team as normal.
Ross' health situation also involves a form of cancer: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CLL is "very hard to cure," but most people can live with the disease for many years, according to theAmerican Cancer Society.
"It is a form of cancer, but it's not usually thought of as a serious one," Ross said. "But if your lymph nodes start to grow… then you've got to be careful. That's where I am right now."
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What is ex-NFL coach Bobby Ross doing now?
Ross lives in Richmond, Va., with his wife Alice, having retired from coaching after the 2006 season as head coach of Army. He previously coached theDetroit Lionsand San Diego Chargers, a team he led to the Super Bowl in January 1995.
He said he recently was invited to a football-related event inAtlantabut wasn't sure if he'd make it because of his health. He said his wife also had cancer removed.
"So it's been a rough winter for us health-wise," Ross said.
He still was adamant he'd watch Georgia Tech's season opener.
"Oh, for sure," Ross said. "I'll watch it. I sure will. Very much so."
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(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
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(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
UNLV's Jai'Den Thomas (9) drives against Idaho State's Jacob Martin (21) at Allegiant Stadium.
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Iowa State player Abu Sama III is tackled by Donovan McIntosh of Kansas State during the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium on Aug 23, 2025.
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Iowa State player Dominic Overby scores a touchdown during the Aer Lingus Classic against Kansas State at Aviva Stadium.
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Iowa State player Eli Green reaches for a pass against Austin Romaine of Kansas State during the Aer Lingus Classic at Aviva Stadium.
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Iowa State takes the field during the Aer Lingus Classic between against Kansas State at Aviva Stadium.
(Laszlo Geczo, INPHO via Imagn Images)
Kansas State cheerleaders during the Aer Lingus Classic against Iowa State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Aug 23, 2025.
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Iowa State fans arrive before the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 23, 2025.
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Kansas State takes the field during the Aer Lingus Classic against Iowa State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Aug 23, 2025.
(Laszlo Geczo, INPHO via Imagn Images)
College football fans before the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 23, 2025.
(Laszlo Geczo, INPHO via Imagn Images)
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Iowa State takes the field during the Aer Lingus Classic between against Kansas State at Aviva Stadium.
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Kansas State cheerleaders during the Aer Lingus Classic against Iowa State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on Aug 23, 2025.
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Ross coached the Yellow Jackets for five seasons from 1987 through 1991 before he was hired by the Chargers in the NFL.
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One of his former Georgia Tech players, Mike MacIntyre, laterbecame head coach at Coloradofrom 2013-2018. Under MacIntyre in 2016, Colorado and Georgia Tech agreed by contract to play this game in 2025 and another one in Atlanta in 2026.
